I have 2 questions.

[Moochie]

How to sex young chicks, vent sexing?
And when to start homing them.
there's only 5 so it won't be alot to sex

 

[TouchO'Lass]

http://msucares.com/poultry/management/poultry_sexing.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1350384/sexing_baby_chickens_pg2.html
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/27_2712.htm

Just a couple of sites with info that might help.

Vent sexing, from all I've read, takes a LOT of practice to learn. You have to massage the abdomen first to clear the cloaca, then turn the chick over and gently open the vent, then decipher what you see, which can be very difficult. And it's all supposed to be on day old chics. With just 5 chicks, you might have to look several times to find the differences...

I'd love to have someone show me how someday, but it sounds like feather sexing is a lot easier for the inexperienced (like ME!

).

Not sure what you mean by "homing"...

Good Luck!

 

[Moochie]

Oh, then how do I feather sex?
Homing them, like finding them homes. My mom want's the best for them so we want nice people with nice yards, that sorta stuff.

 

[TouchO'Lass]

http://animalsciences.missouri.edu/reprod/ReproTech/Feathersex/sld001.htm
http://animalsciences.missouri.edu/reprod/ReproTech/Feathersex/index.htm

The first site has good pictures of feather sexing, but I understand it doesn't work as well with all breeds. Second site describes the process.
I guess the fluffier bubbas (cochin, silkies?) might be harder to tell? Can't say...

As for finding them homes: I would think you could do that at almost anytime since the hatcheries send 'em out as newborns, but you might want to keep them several weeks for those who aren't set up with a brooder, etc, and just want birds ready to hit the coop. I believe I've seen a page on BYC's home page for advertising your birds, but I don't know the rules, etc. You could also see if your local feed and seed (or TSC, depending on where you're located), has a bulletin board for advertising chicks.

Plus there's always the local paper, but those ads can get spendy.

Myself, I would start advertising them now for people who want them really young, and be prepared to keep some a little while for those that want them older.

Good Luck!

 

[Moochie]

Thanks! I don't want to part with them now, I'll wait when mama loses attachment for them and when they're fully feathered.